Man oh man… If you knew my story you’d be celebrating too. When I was just over a year old my father who was seemingly healthy had to go on dialysis and in effect was disabled from that point on. He got a kidney transplant nearly 11 years later, went back on dialysis 4 years later, then died close to 4 years later. When I was 10 years old my grandmother became disabled with emphysema and was forced to go into an early retirement. She died 6 years later and 5 years before my father did.

1999 – First Job $5.15/hr part-time while in high school
2001 – Graduated from high school / started college. Quit first job, got new job a few months later
2003 – Completed Associates Degree. Quit that job and came back after a few months.
2005 – Completed Bachelors Degree. First banking / office job $11/hr part-time worked 2 part time jobs. Bought used car.
2006 – Quit lower paying part-time job, started working full-time.
2007 – Got promotion at banking job but under sketchy circumstances.
2008 – Bought new car. Completed MBA, quit banking job due to stress being at all-time high and hating the job.
2009 – 6 months no job, worked as an exec assistant for a millionaire who paid me per diem out of the office / his house, pay was awful. Eventually he said he did’t have enough work for me. Went on income based deferment
2010 – Went back to banking for a year, met now ex-partner in November. Got off income-based deferrment.
2011 – Left New York for Texas, had no job for 6 months and burned through all my savings
2012 – Got first job in Texas, company went bankrupt bounced my paycheck. Got first job in a new field starting around $32k/yr. Started this blog at –$42k net worth
2013 – Started working at new company with a starting pay of $55k/yr. Turned 30. Started 401k contributions
2014 – Bought new car at 0% APR and regretted it soon thereafter due to transmission / power issues. Several years later the model was part of multiple class action lawsuits
2016 – Finished paying off student loans. Bought new car for $31k 1.9% APR. Also got hit with $8k in medical debt it took me almost a year to pay off.
2017 – Got promoted, along with a series of raises pay increased to over $70k/yr
2018 – Switched companies, pay increased significantly but lateral pay title change, got several raises
2020 – Hit $100k net worth. Became Debt Free, received a significant bonus.
2022 – Got promoted, received another bonus. Bought new semi-expensive car almost $40k before trade. Financed almost $26k. No longer debt free.
2023 – Turned 40. Hit $200k net worth. Got promoted again. Currently the most I’ve every earned in my entire life. Aggressively paying down car loan on target to have it paid off before end of year nearly 4 years early.

Lots of ups and down along the journey. At points I gave up but came back. Things could have taken a much different turn along the way especially if I let fear, uncertainty, and doubt get to me. 24 years since my first job I’m still going and will continue to push myself. It’s a blessing I’m where I’m at now and despite everything I’ve gone through to get here. Much love. Time for bed.